“What do you think, that mine didn’t?”
“Come on… tell me…”
“I didn’t see who he was with at the club. He never left my side. Whoever he was with didn’t interest him anymore.”
“You lucky girl!”
“We danced, we talked…”
“What did you talk about…”
“Nothing much… about our campaign, our work… it was too loud in there. And I was keeping a distance, like between coworkers.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean ‘why’? Well you can’t immediately show how much you like him. The guy has to work a little.”
“Wow, you know everything. Lucky you.”
“I’ll advise you, when you find a guy.”
“A guy? Me? I’ll never find a guy. And where would I find one? We work all day long.”
“You’ll find one, you’ll find one. Now, when Pascal becomes president, we’ll work less, get good salaries, buy only the most beautiful things… guys are going to be all over you.”
“Eh… you think?”
“Absolutely! You bet… this is what I wanted to tell you. It was because of him that I didn’t wake you when Svetlana cried.”
“Because of Habib?”
“Yup. I told you. I pretended not to be interested in him. And I saw, I know how to recognize this, that he was really into me. From before, you get it? Not only last night at the club.”
“Really?”
“Really. I can read men between the lines. And when we went back to the hotel I immediately told him good night, and went to our room. I was certain that he wouldn’t resist and that he’d knock on our door, and take me down to the bar for a drink, and then he’d tell me that he’s liked me for a long time…”
“Aw, Gloria… and what would you have told him?”
“I would have said that now, ahead of the elections, really wasn’t the time for such talks.”
“Would you, really?”
“I would. But only in the beginning, when he first mentioned it. So that he would have to repeat it, to explain why he likes me. To tell me what my hair is like, what my eyes are like, that he can’t sleep… that he’s constantly thinking of me.”
“And what if he didn’t repeat it? What if he accepted what you said and actually waited until the elections?”
“He’ll repeat it, he’ll repeat it. And if he doesn’t, then I would pout until he said again that he likes me. You can’t really plan it like that. You have to feel the moment, and then either be silent or smile or pout. As necessary.”
“I wouldn’t know how to. I’d immediately tell him how handsome he is.”
“I know, but… this is what I want to say to you. That is why I didn’t wake you. Last night when I entered our room, I stood fully dressed near the door for a few minutes. And then I quickly changed, put on my nightgown and lay in bed. So that when I opened the door he would see me in my nightgown. So that he didn’t think that I was waiting for him.”
“You’re really clever. You think of everything.”
“You have to, Dorika. Of course, I didn’t take off my makeup. Who would put makeup on again? Men really don’t get those things.”
“Of course.”
“So I’m lying there… and I hear Svetlana and all that. And after that I still hoped and waited for him… And that’s why I didn’t wake you, you get it?”
“I get it.”
“So you’re no longer angry?”
“I’m not. Actually, I am! Why didn’t you tell me this morning about Svetlana?”
“This morning? What’s with you, Dorika? We were all in panic. Raul banged on everyone’s door and shouted ‘Get up! Pack! We’re leaving Megapolis!’”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I remembered Svetlana only after the plane had taken off.”
“What are the two of you doing here all alone?” asked Habib, a member of Liam’s team, standing behind Gloria and Dorika.
Chapter 66
Pascal calmed down and stopped shouting and pounding on the door. “I cannot save her and the children this way. By giving away that I’m awake.”
He turned off all the lights and closed all the doors in this underground apartment of his. He stood in the narrow corridor with his back to the wall.
“I’ll wait for someone to come in, one of Prince’s bodyguards. He’ll go towards the bedroom door. Probably with a raised hand and holding a gun. And he won’t see me in the dark. Then I’ll jump him and take his gun. I’ll run outside, shooting at anyone who is with him, whoever is waiting for him. I just have to make sure not to kill all of them. I have to force at least one of them to tell me where she is. And where the children are.”
“‘If they are alive’? They are alive! They are alive!!! I know it! Today I stood at the hotel window and they didn’t shoot at me. They also didn’t kill me now. Perhaps they still haven’t killed Seneca or Raul. They’re waiting for something. I’m sure they’re waiting for the elections. I’m sure! To kill us all on the day before the elections, for example. And for the people to be afraid and to feel only fear. So that they don’t have time for anger and for an uprising. And then they cancel the elections and declared a state of emergency. Or something like that.
“They’re alive! I’m sure they’re alive! I’m Kaella’s greatest enemy. He wouldn’t kill others before he killed me,” Pascal calmed himself, while lying in wait.
Chapter 67
“We’re not here all alone…” stuttered Dorika, when she and Gloria turned suddenly towards Habib in surprise.
“Why are you eavesdropping on our conversation, Habib?!” Gloria erupted. “That’s very rude!”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping. I was dozing on the seat in the back, and I felt like a stroll… and then I saw… the two of you… alone here…”
“Nonsense!” said Gloria and turned away from Habib.
“May I sit with you a bit?” Habib asked, already sitting down next to Dorika.
“Of course…” Dorika uttered.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to have a stroll?” Gloria asked Habib crossly, looking straight in front of her.
“I just wanted to stretch my legs…”
“So stretch them.”
“I’ve already stretched them.”
Gloria fell silent and looked out the window.
“So, Dorika, you’re really angry with Gloria, because of Svetlana,” Habib laughed.
“No… that was just for a moment. We made up immediately.”
“Aha. That’s nice, such a friendship.”
“It is.”
“Do you also leave guys as often as your friend?”
“Me? Well, I… no…” Dorika stuttered.
“And that’s very nice of you. And Gloria…”
“Gloria — what?” shouted Gloria. “I intentionally made that up in order to convince Raul that Svetlana didn’t leave Pascal. If you can’t understand that than we have nothing to talk about.”
“We do, we do… about many things.”
“Such as?”
“Such as how is it that you heard Svetlana in the first place?”
“I’m not deaf.”
“Neither is Dorika, are you Dorika?”
“No, I’m not, but I was asleep.”
“Aha. And you Gloria, you hadn’t gone to sleep?”
“I was reading something, if you’re so interested.”
“I’m interested, I’m interested… I’m very interested…”
“Excuse me,” said Dorika. “I have to get something to Margot… you know, Gloria, what she asked me for… that list…”
“Ah, that… yes…” Gloria was relieved because Dorika understood that she should leave.